Walters set for Freo return

HE'S BACK: Fremantle forward Michael Walters is set to return this weekend. Picture: Michael Klein Source: PerthNow

FREMANTLE goal-shark Michael Walters is on the verge of a return in a potential All-Australian selection shootout with North Melbourne scoring ace Lindsay Thomas in Perth on Sunday.

Walters, 22, is likely to be named in Fremantle's provisional 25-man squad tonight ahead of a final fitness hurdle to clear on Friday before the speedy forward is cleared to play.

But Dockers coach Ross Lyon has effectively ruled out returns for star veterans Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.

Pavlich, 31, is in closing stages of full recovery from Achilles surgery back in April while Sandilands, 30, has not played a senior game at all this season with serious hamstring problems.

"Michael would be the only one that could possibly play this week out of the three," Lyon said.
"He trained Monday and he'll train again Friday.

"He's a bit different to the other guys because he's done a full pre-season and played lots of footy.
"So he's in better shape to be able to return."

Lyon revealed prospects of tag-team operations in his strategy to curb Thomas and his potentially damaging goal-scoring after rectifying his long suffering goal-front yips that plagued the crafty opportunist for the past two seasons.

"He's been top level for a while. I think the only issue he had was conversion," Lyon said.

"He can really convert now, so he is going to be a handful.

"But we'll share around a little bit with him."

In-form Dockers defenders Paul Duffield, Garrick Ibbotson or unheralded back-pocket Lee Spurr are likely to alternate on Thomas.

Thomas, 25, heads the league's goal kicking with 35 from his 11 outings this season in an imposing start to his 2013 and genuine All-Australian calculations.
 
Walters was verging on possible All-Australian squad nomination with 19 goals from eight outings when he tweaked an ankle late into Fremantle's stunning come-from-behind draw against reigning champions Sydney in Sydney a month ago.

He resumes to bolster Fremantle's scoring potency as well as resume a genuine tilt to win the prestigious small forward All-Australian selection against Thomas with his new-found accuracy and ultimately gun Hawthorn scoring trump Cyril Rioli, who is still sidelined with serious hamstring troubles.

Walters is likely to be Fremantle's only change to the starting outfit that beat Brisbane in Perth last Saturday by 40 points.
 

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